Moving to Thailand!

[Steff]

Foggy,

This is very impressive and interesting. I am sure other BMs (DT and myself included) have been thinking about when and how we can do the same thing. Currently I am trying to evaluate the strength of my financial legs and what kind of lifestyle they can support in LOS. So thanks for the info. It helps.

BTW, I am in Pattaya between May 13 and 22. Any change of us raising a glass?

Steff

[Foggy]

As theres an interest in this subject Im happy to add my thoughts and out goings as they turn up. Theres always going to be extras you dont account for so I hope I dont get to many surprises.

Me too TT..  

Hi Steff   I'll do my best to pop over the dates are in my diary..  

It was really a case of Samui choosing me.

I came here 12 years ago and liked it alot so did the usual dive course (sea not LB ) but never thougt much else about it.
7 years later I went back and loved it. So much development and modernisation but still retaining alot of jungle, cocconut trees, mountains and the old style island feel about the place. Thats still the case and I hope the Thai's / farang dont spoil this. Not holding my breath though.

This place suits my life style and as I said before I can go mountain biking in the mountains and not see anyone for hours. I can sit on a beautiful beach with no one around or restaurant.  Also theres the option to go into town and have a rev up with plenty to see and do with a mix of GG's and Lb's in the bars and restaurants and a few disco's if thats your thing. Some thing for every one.

Its so easy to fly to Pattaya or BKK or anywhere else in Thailand from here too so your far from cut off if thats a thought.
Two and a half hours away by ferry is Surat Thani airport which is half the price normally than BKK airways on the island so another option.

A few more thoughts and predictions on my out goings for this month as I see it.

Rent                       20,000
USB                         1413
Bike rental               2500
Petrol                      800
Food/water             8000
Electric                    1800    (450 units at 4 baht per unit)

Total                      34513  baht

This is based on basic living and just being here doing my personal interests that are free, ie biking exploring/ gym/ sun bathing/ beach life/ photography/ people watching having a coffee or cocconut... etc, some thing that fills alot of time for me.

Oh and the one big thing for all of us.... no stress from having to work or run a company...  

I have done all my figures and can afford  75000 baht a month, so Im well in so far and that gives me the much needed opportunity to have a 'spend up' or 'treat' each month or when ever I choose...  

Once the house is done then 20,000 baht more will be available to me but this brings a little extra cost too as I'll have a pool and Jeep to run so theres insurance / maintainance / petrol / extra electric etc to consider so we'll see how all this pans out in the long term.

The beauty of being here is that you can fill your time cheaply and with abundance and also for the sake of a phone call have a LB and her 'sister' over for the afternoon sharing your pool / food / drink / and body fluids...    

As regards to the houses Im building, I personally prefer to have my own place with privacy and the ability to develope and create my own living space. I purchased the land 5 years ago through a Thai company and am building 2 houses. (380 sq mtrs each)

One is 60% and the other is 85% finished and this was done on 74 baht to the £ and have been unworked on for 3 years. So there still financially good. Ive waited to be living here to carry on and finish them as you cant do it from afar as I have found out the hard way.


The wrangles of building here are a whole different thread so I wont go on to much here about that now.

Ok Im off for a cool down in the pool now (pictured) and then a spin on my bike

cheers for now

Foggy..

[daveduke007]

Loving your report Foggy, awesome reading mate

BTW, I will be in Pattaya from the 17th-20th May if ya fancy popping over for a bevvy or two , quite a few BM's with whom you know will be in town I believe at this time

[PigDogg]

Way to go Foggy!

I've been trying to live on 45K a month plus about 200USD a month for health insurance.

But checking my bankbook, it seems over the last eight months I've been spending about 50K a month.

I'm not really a big believer in the sanctity of budgets but realize I need to cut back a little. Probably the expenditure for which I get the least bang for the buck is boozing. I'm not in the bars to meet ladyboys but rather to socialize with my chums, so am trying to figure out ways to socialize without running up the barbill.

[Chinaman]

If u r not into meeting lbs in bars, I don't really see any particular reason to frequent bars and spend money on drinks there. I would guess that chums who wanna spend time with u, would also be prepared to meet u on yr own terms over a Thai meal or soup b4 hitting the bars ...

Some suggestions to reduce spending would be:
Establish 5 days a month you won't spend hardly anything at all, apart from the usual meal/s - that would be 1 day per week and one floating one to be inserted where most convenient.

or/and

cut yr daily budget to 50% or a bit above for the first 2 weeks of the month, then relax it a bit. It is usually more difficult to cut corners towards the end of the month than the beginning.

Apart from paying for girls and massages and treating myself to a nice loom, I could spend very little in Pattaya ...

[mardhi]

(Foggy @ Apr. 15 2010,13:21) Food/water             8000
Electric                    1800    (450 units at 4 baht per unit)

I think you will find both Food and electric are very light - I would imagine you will actually be spending circa 15,000b on food and probably 5,000b on electric/water (in apt).

Everytime I have attempted to do similar 'budgets' I tend to come out considerably over my first estimates - just buying a jar of Marmite can set you back 400b so its easy to blow a lot in a supermarket just buying essentials and dont forget costs of shampoo, shower gels, toothpastes, toilet rolls etc etc - they all add up - I often blow 1000b in 7-11 just buying these essentials.

Cheers
Mardhi

[daveduke007]

(Chinaman @ Apr. 15 2010,10:42) If u r not into meeting lbs in bars, I don't really see any particular reason to frequent bars and spend money on drinks there. I would guess that chums who wanna spend time with u, would also be prepared to meet u on yr own terms over a Thai meal or soup b4 hitting the bars ...

Like he has explained already, PD goes out to socalise with chums not to "pull" a girl.

I for one and I'm sure as many many other BM's going to Pattaya ( at different times of the Year) find it isnt quite the same without meeting up with this very amiable American Gentleman that is PigDogg for a few drinks.    

He is after all the our guide of Sunee Plaza along with Kahuna   and I am looking forward to meeting them both again next month even though PD has really "corrupted" my mind a lot regarding a certain  No-10    

Sorry  

[Steff]

Foggy,
Thanks once again for the info. I really hope we have a chance to meet in mid May. If not then we will have another chance in July. I am back from July 02 to 17.

PD, DD007, Kahuna,
I am in Pattaya from May 13 to 22. If any of you would like to get together for a drink or evening of exploits it would be a pleasure. I have never been to Sunee but am up for it if someone would like to provide a sight-seeing guided tour.

Steff

[Foggy]

Hi Dave,
I will look to be there for those dates and hope to meet up with a few of the other BM's too..


As regards my electric bill I arrived on the 11th March and then had 10 days away. The meter has been ticking since I returned and this mornng it showed 201 used units from when I moved in. Thats about 25 days useage, I really hope its right.

If Im not using it I dont leave it on, I run a small fan most of the day air- con at night only (8 hours) and music / computer / TV when I feel the need. Im cooking with Gas so that would be a bottle change every so often. I also only use lights where I am and dont leave them on all over the house.

As for the food you could be right time will tell..

cheers

Foggy

[Ishywishyonastar]

So far 16 years 4 months and 8 days have passed. The time has flown by. Can't imagine living anywhere else now. I know your thinking 'no where else will have him.'
I think there have been a few attempted coups etc. etc. but, I have not really seen anything. Maybe the next few weeks could get interesting.
Everyday I expect to face challenges and, everyday I tell my self to remain calm and, try not to show any signs of anger. Most of the time I have been working. Not in Pattaya. About 1 hour away. Again many challenges but, at the end of the day, I enjoyed working with the Thai people (many who had more than one degree - many didn't need one) and, I think they enjoyed working with me. One interesting thing that might help some of you, not just with working with Thais but, in everyday life. Whenever something went wrong the most common excuse was 'The Language Factor' but, for me, on many occasions the real cause was 'The Listening Factor.' We would have Management Meetings in English. Then, the Thai Managers would do their own Thai summary. So many times, the guys at the end of the line, did totally the wrong thing. Many times costing thousands of dollars to put right. Why, because of 'The Listening Factor' and, its the same when they are talking to each other in their own language. Towards the end, I had to join the Thai summary meeting, to make sure the correct message went down the line. Its the same with partners. When we are talking about something important I always ask that they explain to me what I have just said to them.
Hope this makes sense and is a help.

[pacman]

Whether it is the 'The Language Factor' or the 'The Listening Factor', the communication barrier between farangs & Thais is exacerbated by those whose command of the English language is so poor that they can't talk without resorting to cliches & jargon & by Thais too polite & concerned they will cause offence if they continually question what someone is trying to say.

I have heard a few exchanges where the waitress has been left totally confused & has needed a translation to understand what was just said.

Many years ago, a young girl just out of school asked in perfectly pronounced English "would you like one drink?"

"Naah" said my mate "we're gonna hit the road"

To calm her wide-eyed amazement I explained to her "that means we are leaving"

I have visions of her wondering what on earth did the road ever do to deserve a beating...

[Bumpa STIKKA]

This thread is turning into a good read...

There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to giving advice about moving to Thailand.

The trick is to read everyone's advice and pull the bits that apply to you!

When I first came here I used to gaze longingly at HP Sauce and cheese hoping that one day I would be able to afford to by some!

[guydesavoy]

How goes the house building Foggy ? Any surprises..budget still on track ? (minus the Pattaya excursions   )..
Any local lovelies on the horizon ?  

[TEXASMAC]

I was in Detroit in the 1967 race riots. Thailand is not any worse.

[thaibound]

talking about damning with faint praise!